as in partial
inclined to favor one side over another
a shamelessly partisan reporter covering the primary campaign
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
variants
also partizan
1
as in adherent
one who follows the opinions or teachings of another
partisans of the charismatic leader refuse to tolerate any criticism of him at all
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in militant
one who is intensely or excessively devoted to a cause
a partisan of the revolution who was even willing to give her life for it
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in sectarian
one who stubbornly or intolerantly adheres to his or her own opinions and prejudices
she's too much of a political partisan to ever concede that the other side might have a valid point
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of partisan
Deborah Laverty, Chicago Tribune, 16 Mar. 2026
Independent polls from news organizations or universities can offer a less partisan view, though not always an accurate one.
—Karen Brooks Harper
austin Bureau, Dallas Morning News, 16 Mar. 2026
Nick Coltrain, Denver Post, 16 Feb. 2026
As one Texas insider explained to me, Cornyn is the national candidate who isn’t exactly loved at home, while Paxton draws adoration from partisans at home who may show up to send a message that what’s happening in Washington is not to their tastes.
—Philip Elliott, Time, 10 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for partisan
Adjective
Local civic groups, with their tables set up and fliers available, were on hand to provide information on their non-partisan services.
—Deborah Laverty, Chicago Tribune, 16 Mar. 2026
Independent polls from news organizations or universities can offer a less partisan view, though not always an accurate one.
—Karen Brooks Harper
austin Bureau, Dallas Morning News, 16 Mar. 2026
Noun
Most typically vote like partisans, in favor of their preferred party.
—Nick Coltrain, Denver Post, 16 Feb. 2026
As one Texas insider explained to me, Cornyn is the national candidate who isn’t exactly loved at home, while Paxton draws adoration from partisans at home who may show up to send a message that what’s happening in Washington is not to their tastes.
—Philip Elliott, Time, 10 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for partisan
Recent Examples of Synonyms for partisan
Adjective
-
The Booker plan also raises taxes on the wealthy as a partial offset for its costs.—
Zach Halaschak,
The Washington Examiner,
18 Mar. 2026
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The hearing came as the monthlong partial shutdown has started to cause widespread problems for travelers, and Transportation Safety Administration screeners are forced to work without receiving paychecks.—
Dave Goldiner,
New York Daily News,
18 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Before nuclear technology even existed, there was nuclear utopianism, and the physicist Leo Szilard was its first serious adherent.—
Ross Andersen,
The Atlantic,
11 Mar. 2026
-
Aleph and other Jewish chaplaincy groups say the chaplaincy system is being undermined by the Messianic movement, whose adherents may identify as Jews but are not recognized as such by any denomination of Judaism.—
Asaf Elia-Shalev,
Sun Sentinel,
9 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Pakistan denied targeting civilians, saying its operations are focused on Pakistani Taliban militants and their support networks.—
MUNIR AHMED,
Arkansas Online,
15 Mar. 2026
-
The crisis has worsened recently to include other militants from the neighboring Sahel region, including the Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin, which claimed its first attack on Nigerian soil last year.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
15 Mar. 2026
Noun
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The Iraqi prime minister at the time, Nuri al-Maliki, was a Shiite sectarian with close ties to Iran, and many of his fellow Shia thought he could be relied on to listen to Iran’s wishes and find a way to avoid clashing with an Iranian proxy militia.—
Graeme Wood,
The Atlantic,
2 Sep. 2025
-
Both sides insist the other initiated the initial volley of gunfire that killed four agents and six sectarians.—
Joshua Alston,
Variety,
12 Apr. 2023
Adjective
-
Preparing well as a team is the Tommies’ primary order of business until the puck is dropped in what is sure to be a hostile environment for the visitors.—
Dean Spiros,
Twin Cities,
18 Mar. 2026
-
Later that year, local outlet Washington City Paper also reported on allegations of a hostile work environment under Pettigrew.—
Alice Yin,
Chicago Tribune,
17 Mar. 2026
Noun
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On Friday, some of her followers made the trek to the mural only to find that the logo had already been painted over with a lighter shade of purple.—
Charlie Vargas,
Oc Register,
17 Mar. 2026
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And speaking with Jon Weinstein, the National Hockey League’s chief communications officer, SI noted that the league’s social media pages exploded with new followers.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
16 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Unfortunately, the garbage that RFK spewed during his time as a private sector anti-vaccine crusader and is now trying to make government policy as the nation’s top public health official has had vaccine skepticism growing nationwide, with deadly consequences.—
New York Daily News Editorial Board,
New York Daily News,
18 Mar. 2026
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Stanford University biologist Paul Ehrlich, who died March 13, 2026, in Palo Alto, California, was a scientific crusader whose dire predictions about population growth, world hunger and environmental collapse made headlines and sparked controversy for decades.—
The Conversation,
The Conversation,
16 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Prosecutors, police and FBI officials say Balat and Kayumi, who lived in Philadelphia’s suburbs, drove to New York City on Saturday and joined a throng of counter protesters at a small, anti-Muslim rally organized by the far-right Christian nationalist Jake Lang.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
10 Mar. 2026
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From late Qing reformers inspired by Athenian citizenship to nationalists who draw on Plato to bolster China’s political ideology, Bartsch shows how supple ancient texts are in the hands of interpreters.—
Chang Che,
New Yorker,
8 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Partisan.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/partisan. Accessed 21 Mar. 2026.
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